Twisted ribbon wire guidewire coil

Abstract

A medical guidewire having distal tip coil that includes a twisted ribbon wire construction. The distal tip coil is mounted to the distal end of the distal core section of the guidewire. The coil is made from a flat ribbon wire with a polygonal, preferably rectangular, cross-section that is twisted along the length of the wire. The twisted, flat ribbon wire creates a tip coil that has a roughened, undulating surface at the outer circumference that, whether coated or bare, is perceptible to the physician or cardiologist when pushing or torquing the guidewire in an interventional procedure.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An intraluminal medical guidewire, comprising:
 a solid, cylindrical core having a distal core section with a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end transitioning to a proximal core section;   a distal coil mounted to the distal core section, the distal coil having:   a single strand of a coil wire with a rectangular cross-sectional shape with a height and a width, wherein the rectangular cross-sectional shape rotates 360° about a longitudinal axis of the coil wire and along a length of the coil wire to create a continuous twist;   wherein the coil wire includes a plurality of turns forming a helix having a constant outside diameter;   a proximal coil having a coil wire mounted to the distal core section proximal of the distal coil; and   an intermediate coil having a coil wire mounted to the distal core section in between the distal coil and the proximal coil.   
     
     
         22 . The intraluminal medical guidewire of  claim 21 , wherein a polymer coating covers the distal coil. 
     
     
         23 . An intraluminal medical guidewire of  claim 21 , wherein the intermediate coil include a single strand of a coil of wire having a rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         24 . An intraluminal medical guidewire of  claim 23 , wherein the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the intermediate coil is rotated 360° about a longitudinal axis of the intermediate coil wire and along a length of the intermediate coil wire to create a continuous twist. 
     
     
         25 . An intraluminal medical guidewire of  claim 24 , wherein the intermediate coil wire includes a plurality of spaced apart turns forming a helix. 
     
     
         26 . An intraluminal medical guidewire of  claim 24 , wherein the intermediate coil has a constant outside diameter.